ANTIBIOTIC resistance is as important of an issue as the effects of climate change, says Labasa Hospital pharmacy intern Naima Shazmeen.
Ms Shazmeen, who is an advocate on antibiotic resistance, said antibiotics were lifesaving medications which helped kill the bacteria causing infection in the body.
“When these infection causing bacteria become stronger then the antibiotic, they become antibiotic resistant.
“Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern that people throughout Fiji need to know and understand about,” Ms Shazmeen said.
She said if antibiotic resistance was not controlled in time, common treatable infections could become untreatable and could lead to death.
She said preserving the antibiotics we had would benefit the nation in terms of financial burden. It would be less to both an individual and the country.
“Firstly, know about antibiotic resistance, meaning people need to understand what antibiotic resistance means.
“It does not refer to a person becoming resistant to antibiotics it’s the bacteria causing the infection/sickness which becomes resistant.
“This makes it harder to kill the bacteria and it takes longer for the patient to get better.”
The 23-year-old is the 2018 Miss Friendly North and plans to continue advocating at every given opportunity to strengthen the system to make it easier to address issues of antimicrobial resistance.
